p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry drummed his fingers along the oak of his desk, swirling scotch around the glass in his right hand./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I honestly don't know why you spend so much on your liquor, Lucius," he was saying. "It doesn't even taste good."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus sniffed, rolling his eyes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You're supposed to smell and sip, Alpha," he drawled, raising an amused eyebrow at his younger mate. He found himself questioning how old Harry actually was counting the time he had used the time turner to train himself. /p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'd honestly prefer pumpkin juice to this mess, Severus," Harry replied, running his fingers along the back of his neck. Severus seemed much more relaxed now, a week after Ron was kicked out of the manor, but he was still more hesitant than he was right before he started coming./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry leaned back, casually shifting to open his legs more and offer an inviting arm to the man. Severus blushed, glancing quickly at the two Malfoys before sweeping up elegantly and placing himself onto Harry's lap as if it was simply a more comfortable seating option./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry restrained his laugh at his antics, just moving to trace patterns onto his arms./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I wish to offer you the best of luck and support as you start working with the students in a few days, but I have to admit that's not why I called you away from the school."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius smirked, his silver eyes gleaming./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Oh? And why would that be?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry's amusement dropped from his face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I've been thinking of how to punish Ronald for his actions against Severus, and I am having trouble with my own ideas staying within the boundaries of the law. Of course, if Severus' life had been threatened, I would have an entirely different case, but as most of the damage was psychological rather than physical, I wouldn't have much justification for say… killing him."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus choked on his own breath at that, turning to look at his dominant's face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Surely you aren't serious?" he gasped. "Besides, he wouldn't have been able to do a thing to me if I had defended myself."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry growled, and the man responded by tilting his neck to the side in automatic submission. Harry nipped at the open neck before nuzzling it./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You should never have to defend yourself in the safety of your own home, and especially not from who is supposed to be a friend. He deserves nothing less than death." Severus scowled at him, levering himself out of Harry's lap./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""He is just a boy!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And am I just a boy then?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Yes!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry slammed the scotch onto the desk, the amber liquid sloshing over the edge./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""He hurt you in our home, Severus," he hissed, Severus whining slightly as he approached. Harry gripped his arms to pull him closer and press his nose against his cheek. "I lived every day twice from the end of my third year onward so that I could train. To learn to protect you and provide for you. I am nearly 21 years old in body. Don't think—even for a moment —that I won't employ my learnings when I feel it's necessary." Severus looked away from him./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius coughed lightly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Well, you did already utilize your Haldaja saliva to cause the equivalent of the cruciatus. Most courts would deem that instinctual, but I know you, Potter. The instincts of your Haltija should only enact themselves when your mate is distressed directly and you mean to soothe, or if you are protecting him then and there from danger. Severus was safely in his room when you attacked the Weasley boy." Harry snarled, still inching towards his mate./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""He will rue the day he touched you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus scoffed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Haven't you done enough? He's blocked from the manor and you crucioed him. He is just a child."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry scowled, but Severus wasn't having it. He decided to employ a different tactic./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Please, Dominant?" he mewled, Harry immediately stumbling and softening. "Can't we leave him to Hermione? I don't want you to leave again."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry reached forward and pulled Severus into his arms./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Pet, I only wish to protect you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus found he didn't have to pretend to bring tears to his eyes. The idea of Harry going against what he wanted just because he wanted revenge was enough./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You would leave me here even when I told you I didn't want it?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry paused and really looked at his mate, seeing real tears spilling from his onyx eyes. He brought him in closer, pulling him with a hand under his thigh and the back of his knee./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""No, sweetheart. Never," he promised. "If you don't want me to go after Ron anymore, then I won't—unless he finds a way to hurt you again. I can't allow that."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus tensed at the addition, but decided to let it go. He was a spy for Merlin's sake! He could surely defend himself against an 18 year old boy!/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"-SSHP-/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"When Severus stepped out of his bedroom after a midday nap (he was still healing after all) he knew that something was different. He sensed a difference in the magic around him, but there was nothing sinister so he shrugged it off. Harry had probably put some sort of monitoring charm on his room or something, overprotective dolt that he was./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He realized he was wrong the moment he looked at himself in the mirror, in a restricting corset rather than the soft pair of sweatpants he had decided to slip on. It still felt like his loose tee and loungers, but it certainly didn't look it./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He marched directly to his dominant's office, barging in on a meeting between him and Kingsley, a wounded and irritated expression on his face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I will not allow even my master to humiliate me for fun," he snapped, arms crossed and eyes glaring. How dare he? Just like his father!/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry frowned at him, holding a hand up to stop any more comments from spewing forth./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I haven't done anything to you, pet. You can wait for me in the parlor, as I'm in a very important meeting right now."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus whined automatically, gazing down at his clothing./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry growled./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""No, Severus," though he did flick his wand, and the magic around him disappeared. "You will wait for me in the parlor. You know you've broken my rules with your entrance. It will only be a moment."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The man shuffled out of the office, seating himself in the parlor to wait for his dominant, cursing himself for his mistakes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of his submissive sprawled out on the couch. His shirt had ridden up, exposing a pale expanse of skin, and his feet were bare. Harry would have smiled if it weren't for the somber expression on his face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You look like a lazy kitten when you lay like that," Harry noted, a husky note entering his voice. He placed his mate's head onto his thighs and continued speaking./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I cherish you, mon chaton," Harry whispered, running his rough fingers through Severus' silky hair. "You mean the world to me. Yet to you, I am nothing more than someone trying to control your life. You go from calling me Dominant, or Alpha, or even just Harry to calling me master or Potter when I have upset you. What is it that I have done to cause you to be so distant with me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus whimpered, turning his face into Harry's lower belly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry sighed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I did a check of your bedroom. The spell was done by Ginny. I've restricted her to the library whenever she is here, and the elves know to keep an eye on her if she tries to go near your bedroom—or you in general." Severus nodded./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It was only a prank. I overreacted." Harry let loose a soothing rumble./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You reacted as if your dominant had abused your trust for his own amusement," Harry told him sympathetically. "I would never do that to you, my own. Not even a harmless prank."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"And they rested there, enjoying the comfort of each other and the silence./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"TBC/span/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I honestly don't know why you spend so much on your liquor, Lucius," he was saying. "It doesn't even taste good."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus sniffed, rolling his eyes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You're supposed to smell and sip, Alpha," he drawled, raising an amused eyebrow at his younger mate. He found himself questioning how old Harry actually was counting the time he had used the time turner to train himself. /p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'd honestly prefer pumpkin juice to this mess, Severus," Harry replied, running his fingers along the back of his neck. Severus seemed much more relaxed now, a week after Ron was kicked out of the manor, but he was still more hesitant than he was right before he started coming./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry leaned back, casually shifting to open his legs more and offer an inviting arm to the man. Severus blushed, glancing quickly at the two Malfoys before sweeping up elegantly and placing himself onto Harry's lap as if it was simply a more comfortable seating option./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry restrained his laugh at his antics, just moving to trace patterns onto his arms./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I wish to offer you the best of luck and support as you start working with the students in a few days, but I have to admit that's not why I called you away from the school."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius smirked, his silver eyes gleaming./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Oh? And why would that be?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry's amusement dropped from his face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I've been thinking of how to punish Ronald for his actions against Severus, and I am having trouble with my own ideas staying within the boundaries of the law. Of course, if Severus' life had been threatened, I would have an entirely different case, but as most of the damage was psychological rather than physical, I wouldn't have much justification for say… killing him."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus choked on his own breath at that, turning to look at his dominant's face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Surely you aren't serious?" he gasped. "Besides, he wouldn't have been able to do a thing to me if I had defended myself."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry growled, and the man responded by tilting his neck to the side in automatic submission. Harry nipped at the open neck before nuzzling it./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You should never have to defend yourself in the safety of your own home, and especially not from who is supposed to be a friend. He deserves nothing less than death." Severus scowled at him, levering himself out of Harry's lap./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""He is just a boy!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And am I just a boy then?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Yes!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry slammed the scotch onto the desk, the amber liquid sloshing over the edge./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""He hurt you in our home, Severus," he hissed, Severus whining slightly as he approached. Harry gripped his arms to pull him closer and press his nose against his cheek. "I lived every day twice from the end of my third year onward so that I could train. To learn to protect you and provide for you. I am nearly 21 years old in body. Don't think—even for a moment —that I won't employ my learnings when I feel it's necessary." Severus looked away from him./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius coughed lightly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Well, you did already utilize your Haldaja saliva to cause the equivalent of the cruciatus. Most courts would deem that instinctual, but I know you, Potter. The instincts of your Haltija should only enact themselves when your mate is distressed directly and you mean to soothe, or if you are protecting him then and there from danger. Severus was safely in his room when you attacked the Weasley boy." Harry snarled, still inching towards his mate./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""He will rue the day he touched you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus scoffed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Haven't you done enough? He's blocked from the manor and you crucioed him. He is just a child."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry scowled, but Severus wasn't having it. He decided to employ a different tactic./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Please, Dominant?" he mewled, Harry immediately stumbling and softening. "Can't we leave him to Hermione? I don't want you to leave again."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry reached forward and pulled Severus into his arms./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Pet, I only wish to protect you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus found he didn't have to pretend to bring tears to his eyes. The idea of Harry going against what he wanted just because he wanted revenge was enough./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You would leave me here even when I told you I didn't want it?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry paused and really looked at his mate, seeing real tears spilling from his onyx eyes. He brought him in closer, pulling him with a hand under his thigh and the back of his knee./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""No, sweetheart. Never," he promised. "If you don't want me to go after Ron anymore, then I won't—unless he finds a way to hurt you again. I can't allow that."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus tensed at the addition, but decided to let it go. He was a spy for Merlin's sake! He could surely defend himself against an 18 year old boy!/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"-SSHP-/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"When Severus stepped out of his bedroom after a midday nap (he was still healing after all) he knew that something was different. He sensed a difference in the magic around him, but there was nothing sinister so he shrugged it off. Harry had probably put some sort of monitoring charm on his room or something, overprotective dolt that he was./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He realized he was wrong the moment he looked at himself in the mirror, in a restricting corset rather than the soft pair of sweatpants he had decided to slip on. It still felt like his loose tee and loungers, but it certainly didn't look it./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He marched directly to his dominant's office, barging in on a meeting between him and Kingsley, a wounded and irritated expression on his face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I will not allow even my master to humiliate me for fun," he snapped, arms crossed and eyes glaring. How dare he? Just like his father!/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry frowned at him, holding a hand up to stop any more comments from spewing forth./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I haven't done anything to you, pet. You can wait for me in the parlor, as I'm in a very important meeting right now."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus whined automatically, gazing down at his clothing./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry growled./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""No, Severus," though he did flick his wand, and the magic around him disappeared. "You will wait for me in the parlor. You know you've broken my rules with your entrance. It will only be a moment."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The man shuffled out of the office, seating himself in the parlor to wait for his dominant, cursing himself for his mistakes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of his submissive sprawled out on the couch. His shirt had ridden up, exposing a pale expanse of skin, and his feet were bare. Harry would have smiled if it weren't for the somber expression on his face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You look like a lazy kitten when you lay like that," Harry noted, a husky note entering his voice. He placed his mate's head onto his thighs and continued speaking./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I cherish you, mon chaton," Harry whispered, running his rough fingers through Severus' silky hair. "You mean the world to me. Yet to you, I am nothing more than someone trying to control your life. You go from calling me Dominant, or Alpha, or even just Harry to calling me master or Potter when I have upset you. What is it that I have done to cause you to be so distant with me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus whimpered, turning his face into Harry's lower belly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry sighed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I did a check of your bedroom. The spell was done by Ginny. I've restricted her to the library whenever she is here, and the elves know to keep an eye on her if she tries to go near your bedroom—or you in general." Severus nodded./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It was only a prank. I overreacted." Harry let loose a soothing rumble./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You reacted as if your dominant had abused your trust for his own amusement," Harry told him sympathetically. "I would never do that to you, my own. Not even a harmless prank."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"And they rested there, enjoying the comfort of each other and the silence./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"TBC/span/p
